3 Senior Women Who Have Changed the World

March is Women’s History Month, and what better way for a senior lifestyle blog to celebrate than to publish a post in honor of a few senior women who have truly changed the world we live in! It was incredibly difficult to narrow this list down to only three ladies, since there are hundreds of worthy women we could’ve written about. To help us narrow it down, as of the writing of this article, these women had to be both alive and eligible for Medicare based on their age. We also tried to pick a multi-disciplinary group of individuals who have impacted the world in different ways.

While the women we’ll talk more about below are all worthy of this honor in their own rights, like all great people, they stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before them. We would be remiss to not, at least, give special mention to a few of these “giants” who are no longer with us.

Special Mentions Who Have Passed
Marie Curie	Susan B. Anthony	Eleanor Roosevelt
Maya Angelou	Betty Friedan	Rosa Parks
Wangari Maathai	Julia Child	Toni Morrison

So, who are the three senior women we’ve chosen to honor this Women’s History Month?

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the oldest current-serving member of the United States Supreme Court. She was named to the court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, replacing Justice Byron White on the suggestion of Attorney General Janet Reno and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. Her time on the bench has seen her become a staunch advocate of women’s rights and been a notable voice of dissent at times. Outside of the court, Justice Ginsburg is a cancer-survivor, former college professor, inductee into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and the subject of a 2018 film On the Basis of Sex.

Why We Picked Her

She may not be the first woman to sit on the highest court in the land (that honor goes to Sandra Day O’Connor), but Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the longest-serving female justice and has been a significant figure on the modern Supreme Court for over a quarter of a century. In recent years, she’s also become something of a cultural icon, gaining cross-generational appeal and earning the nickname “The Notorious RBG.” We wanted to put her on this list because of her rejection of calls to step down because she was getting too old, instead maintaining she’ll serve as long as she is able. Since then, she’s become the fourth oldest Supreme Court justice ever at 86. Between her continued service and a best-selling workout book based on her routine, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is proving that age is just a number.

Oprah Winfrey

More often known as just Oprah, Winfrey is an award-winning media titan, actress, and philanthropist. When her long-running daytime talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show ended in 2011, she left behind a legacy of helping others and giving away a lot of cool stuff. The show itself became the one of the highest-rated talk shows in television history. After ending her show, she started the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), showcasing shows from her production studio, Harpo Studios, among others.

Why We Picked Her

Oprah revolutionized daytime TV, turning it from a graveyard for gameshows and reruns to a platform to discuss real issues. Beyond her entertainment work, she continues to support many causes, promote reading through her book club, and inform and entertain her massive community of fans. There’s a reason she’s been on the Time’s 100 list 10 times and called the most powerful person in the entertainment industry. This is despite a difficult childhood, where she suffered hardship, abuse, and poverty — all of which helped transform Orpah Gail Winfrey into the giant we see today.

Eve Ensler

Eve Ensler is a Tony Award-winning American playwright and activist most known for her book and play The Vagina Monologues. Theater has always been a home to tackling societal issues, but Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues is one of the longest-standing and well-known plays to discuss women’s issues. Since Ensler exploded into the world of theater, she has become a prolific advocate for women’s rights and a fighter of violence against women. She has continued to campaign, not just for American women, but for women around the world.

Why We Picked Her

We had to add Ensler to this list because she’s an prolific campaigner for women in modern times. Not only is she active in pushing to end violence against women, but she’s been very successful at it. Her books have been featured on the New York Times’ bestseller list, her plays have been performed to sellout crowds around the world, and she’s even given multiple TED Talks. Every year, her movement, V-Day, is recognized with events held around the world.

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Women’s History Month is an excellent opportunity to recognize women who have made a positive impact in our society. These women show that you can be great at any age, no matter your circumstances. All you need to do is follow your interests and strengths to make the world a better place!

We know we left off many, many exemplary senior women that deserve a spot on this list. Who would you suggest and why? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to hear your suggestions!